What Parents Need to Know About the Spike in Child Product Safety Recalls

A recent report published by Kids in Danger (KID), a non-profit group dedicated to protecting child safety through recalls, indicates that child product safety recalls rose in 2016 over the previous year, peaking to its highest level since 2004. The analysis looked at data provided by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) from 2016, revealing that companies pulled 66.8 million units of 76 child products from store shelves.

Those numbers break down to a 12% increase in child product safety recalls compared to 2015. In a statement to reporters, KID’s executive director revealed that the product safety recalls ranged from “sippy cups that grow mold and sicken children, to strollers that lose wheels and injure both occupants and caregivers.”

Sadly, 4,842 incidents prompted the massive recalls that resulted in 394 injuries, and seven deaths. Estimates suggest 32% of recalled products were nursery products, putting some of the most vulnerable children at risk.

How Can Parents Get Breaking News on Child Product Safety Recalls?

Social media can be a great tool to help parents get breaking news on child product safety recalls. As KID’s executive director explained, roughly 60% of companies used Facebook to announce that they were pulling dangerous products. While it may be hard, parents should keep tabs on the companies making the products their family uses by following these companies on social media to get breaking news about recalls.

Furthermore, parents can sign up for recall alerts from the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website and social media accounts like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Google Plus. The site also allows consumers to report issues with products by electronically submitting issues to the agency, helping speed up the pace of recalls. As the KID’s report noted, it took an average of 64 reported incidents before companies involved in the 2016 recalls took action.

What are the Legal Ramifications for Product Safety Recalls?

Individuals harmed by defective products may be eligible to seek financial compensation for their injuries from the product manufacturer and/or retailer. Often times, companies must be compelled through civil action before they rectify situations that place the public in danger. For those reasons, individuals harmed by defective consumer products should speak to an experienced personal injury attorney to learn more about their rights.